In the last year or so, CBD oil has become the latest trendy new product to hit the medical market. But is this recent discovery just a silly fad, or a legitimate way to treat a number of different conditions?
If you want to learn more about the benefits of using CBD oils and the medical problems that it can help to treat then you’ve come to the right place. Read on for a complete guide to CBD oils, including their benefits and drawbacks.
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What is CBD oil?
CBD (cannabidiol) is one of many unique chemical compounds (known collectively as cannabinoids) that are found in the cannabis plant.
This particular compound CBD, which you can find here on this site, can have many positive health benefits and can be used therapeutically for a range of different illnesses, disorders, and pain relief.
CBD oils are oils that contain a concentrated amount of this compound. This is why CBD oils are being used more and more for their various therapeutic and medical benefits.
The other well-known chemical compound that comes from the cannabis plant is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This is the chemical that we associate with “pot” and getting “high.”
Although the two compounds have the same basic molecular structure, the atoms that make them up are arranged differently, resulting in different effects and responses in our bodies. Unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive properties so does not alter a person’s state of mind when they use it.
How do CBD oils work?
All cannabinoids (chemical compounds from the cannabis plant) have different effects on the human body.
In fact, the human body has an endocannabinoid system (essentially a really important, biological communication system) that contains receptors for cannabinoid compounds like CBD. This is how CBD (and THC) interact with the body.
There are two receptors that make up the endocannabinoid system: CB1 receptors (found mostly in the nervous system, tissues, and organs) and CB2 receptors (found mostly in the immune system).
Scientists once thought that CBD oils worked by “attaching” to these receptors. However, further research has shown that CBD actually signals to the human body’s existing natural cannabinoids to activate these receptors. This means that the receptors do what they normally, but better. This can result in all sorts of positive effects in the body, which we’ll go into below.
What are the benefits of CBD oils?
There are all sorts of health benefits to using CBD oils they can help with a number of different illnesses, conditions, and diseases. Another way to get the benefits of CBD is via CBD Flower. Check out the list below to see what CBD oils can do.
Did you know CBD has no psychoactive properties.
Relieve Chronic Pain
CBD has natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. This means it can help to manage and relieve chronic pain in the same way if not better than normal painkillers.
Prevent Epileptic Seizures
CBD oils can be a safe and effective way of treating epilepsy and other similar seizure disorders. They can reduce the frequency of seizures, as well as cause an improvement in the patient’s overall condition.
Decrease Anxiety
CBD oils can help to reduce the symptoms and behaviours of anxiety disorders such as social anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and panic disorders.
CBD does this by regulating the amygdala the part of your brain that controls fear.
However, it is worth noting that THC (the chemical compound similar to CBD that is found in marijuana) has psychoactive properties and therefore can trigger or amplify feelings of anxiety. So if you are planning to try CBD oils for an anxiety disorder, then you should stay away from products that also contain THC.
Treat Acne
Cannabidiol can even be used to treat acne.
Acne can be triggered by a number of different factors. However, it usually occurs as a result of blocked pores and sebaceous glands, which result in acne symptoms such as bumps, spots, inflamed skin, and infection.
CBD oil can help to reduce the inflammation of the sebaceous glands and even lower the amount of oily sebum that these glands release (which makes the acne worse).
Tackle Type 1 diabetes symptoms
Research into the positive link between diabetes and CBD oils as a potential treatment is still being carried out. However, initial studies indicate that CBD can help with easing the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes such as inflammation and neuropathic pain.
It should be noted that CBD should not be taken instead of diabetes medication and is not a cure.
Significantly reduce multiple sclerosis symptoms
CBD has therapeutic properties which can help MC patients to manage the symptoms associated with the disease. For example, CBD can help to improve sleep and pain management. It can also help with muscle spasms and stiffness.
Help to fight cancer
This is an area of research that is still being examined, but CBD could possibly help to combat cancer in the future. Time will tell, but CBD could halt the spread of cancer by suppressing the growth of cancer cells and helping to destroy them.
Slow down the development of Alzheimer’s disease
It’s still very early days, but initial research indicates that CBD may help to prevent the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s in some patients. More research is needed, but this could be a safe way to reduce inflammation in the brain that leads to Alzheimer’s.
Research is still being carried out to fully determine the effects of using CBD oils, but researchers have already seen some extremely positive effects in patients with the above conditions.
If you are thinking about using CBD oils for any serious conditions, then seek the advice of a medical expert first.
What Are The Drawbacks of CBD oils?
One of the big benefits of using CBD oils is that they don’t produce many — or any — negative side effects.
Of course, the scientific community still has to do more extensive research on the long-term impacts of cannabidiol, but the many small-scale studies that have been carried out indicate that CBD is safe and produces no significant side effects.
Here are some of the minor drawbacks of using CBD oils that have been discovered so far:
- Tiredness This is the most common side effect that people have reported
- Dry skin and a dry mouth
As you can see, the side effects of using CDB oils are all minor and the majority of users do not experience them. Considering the number of positive benefits that CBD has for many different conditions, it’s a very small price to pay.
How do I use and buy CBD oils?
Hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) oils and other products are completely legal to buy, possess and use in the US (as well as many other countries over the world).
This is because these CBD products come from the hemp plant, rather than the marijuana plant. The two are the main primary species of the cannabis family they’re not the same plant, although people often get them confused.
Where the marijuana plant contains high levels of the psychoactive compound THC (from between 15% to 40%), the hemp plant contains very low levels of THC (less than 0.3%) — making it pretty impossible to “get high” from hemp. Instead, hemp is used to create the CBD that people use medicinally.
CBD is really growing in popularity — particularly in the US as a medical supplement. You can buy CBD oil from multiple different online sites (such as Sol CBD) and Charlotte’s Web CBD oil is a variety of forms. Whether it’s in the form of an oil, balm, or capsules, you decide what the best CBD oil product is the best for you.
Conclusion
CBD oils can have many positive health benefits and can be used therapeutically for a range of different conditions. This is because of the natural anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties that the chemical compound CBD has.
The best way to find out if CBD oils could help you with a particular condition or illness is to try them out. After all, the side effects are pretty much non-existent, and if you find that CBD doesn’t help you in any way, you can simply stop. What have you got to lose?
